Marlene Hinnenkamp

Marlene M. Hinnenkamp, age 71, of Melrose, died after a courageous two year battle with cancer. Marlene died on Monday, July 6 at her home on Big Birch Lake.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Art Hoppe and Deacon Ernie Kociemba concelebrating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101 will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Friday evening.

Marlene Mary Blommel was born October 28, 1937 in Freeport, Minnesota to Henry and Adella (Kerfeld) Blommel. She was united in marriage to William "Bill" Hinnenkamp on August 13, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. She worked at Medtronic in Minneapolis for 25 years and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101. She enjoyed gardening, baking caramel rolls and spending time with her grandchildren. Throughout Marlene's battle with cancer her humor never faded and her love of life remained. She will be greatly missed by her 24 grandchildren, her children, husband, extended family, and all who knew her.

Survivors include her husband, William "Bill" Hinnenkamp of Melrose; children, Susan (Ron) Lindberg of Ham Lake, Ruth Juntunen of Savage, Patrick (Karen) Hinnenkamp of Shoreview, Jean (Keith) Elfering, of Burnsville, Mary (Patrick) Laing of Lakeville, Karen (Jay) Schwartz of Lino Lakes, Peggy (William) Voxland of Savage, Theresa (Kevin) Lienau of Savage, and Katie (Damon) Ray of New Hope; 24 grandchildren; sisters, Sally (Loren) Bergmann of Albany, Helen (Ebe) Hinnenkamp of Melrose, Anne (David) Stommes of Spokane, WA, and Alice (Wally) Hoeschen of Freeport; sisters-in-law, Elaine Blommel of Freeport and Lou (Duane) Braun of Alexandria.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Roman and Norbert Blommel.

Serving as urn bearer will be Rebecca Juntunen. Cross bearer will be Brenda VonWahlde and scripture bearer will be John Braun. Mass servers will be Billy Hinnenkamp and Audrey Blommel. Gift bearers will be Sally Bergmann, Helen Hinnenkamp, Alice Hoeschen, and Elaine Blommel. Readers will be Kelly Blommel and Nick Elfering. The petitions will be read by Luke Elfering, Kristen Lindberg, Natalie Voxland, Brent Laing, Lauren Schwartz, Annie Hinnenkamp, and Kaylin Elfering. Eucharistic Ministers will be Peg Voxland, Jean Elfering, Susan Lindberg, Katie Ray, Karen Schwartz, and Mary Laing. The eulogy will be read by Theresa Lienau. Honorary bearers will be Eric Juntunen, Michael Hinnenkamp, Nick Elfering, Ben Schwartz, Jonathan Laing, and Daniel Voxland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Cloud Hospice Program or Caringbridge.org.